(And what I won’t be packing that I packed first time around!)
For my first birth, I was super across packing my hospital birth bag. However, what I didn’t anticipate (pretty fairly) was how much I’d actually use, and what I simply wouldn’t. Understandably, there were things that I just wasn’t aware of (like the size of the hospital bays and how it all worked), but with this knowledge in mind, I’ll definitely be packing (slightly) lighter – but still remembering a few key things for my hospital birth bag which really helped!
What I will be packing second time around
For me
- For birth
- My birth plan/preferences
- Maternity notes
- Tealights
- Birth comb
- Lavender aromatherapy oil
- Affirmation cards
- Crystals – I’m actually (surprisingly to some) a big believer in crystals, having collected them since a child. I packed Malachite (the midwife stone), Bloodstone (endurance and grounding during childbirth) and Red Carnelian (the “stone of life” for healing, courage during childbirth and circulation) last time and will do so again!
- TENS machine (however I’ll likely start wearing this in early labour at home)
- Hair clip
- Lip balm – you can get really dry lips in labour, especially if on gas and air
- Flip flops
- Neck fan (if giving birth in hotter months)
- Speaker and speaker charger (with birth playlist)
- Lucozade Sports (for the electrolytes during labour)
2. For postpartum
- Nursing bra
- Button down pyjamas
- Loose comfortable clothing
- Lansinoh nipple cream
- A couple of breast pads (just in case)
- 2 packets of Lil-let maternity pads
- Frida Mom maternity disposable knickers x8
- Peri spray bottle – A lifesaver when it comes to soothing during a wee and cleaning
- iPhone charger (3 metres long as some plug sockets can be far away!)
- Socks
- Earplugs for sleeping on the noisy ward
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Makeup
- Deodorant
- Shampoo, conditioner, gentle shower cream (but not to be used down there)
- Hairbrush
- Flannel
- Dark towel
- Prunes and dried apricots for the first poo (was easy first time even with a second degree tear as I ate these!)
- A spare plastic bag for dirty laundry
For baby
- 4x Sleep suits
- 4x Hats
- 4x Vests
- Sweet Dreamers 1.0 tog sleeping bag
- Socks / mitts if there aren’t any in built on the outfits
- Size 0 nappies (1 pack of 24)
- 4x Muslin squares
- Knitted blanket
- Sudocrem
- Cotton wool pads
- Water wipes
- Milestone card (for photos)
- Going home outfit
- Car seat (leave in the car)
- My colostrum syringes – although caveating this with my parents brought this to the hospital daily after my first birth as there wasn’t anywhere to keep them frozen – I had managed to get 60ml of colostrum in the run up to birth, which sustained my little one really well in the first few days. I contribute this to how he maintained his birth weight in the first 5 days.
For my husband
- Toothbrush
- Change of clothes
- Neck pillow (keep in the car)
- Refillable bottle of water
- Snacks – they could be with you for a LONG time and will get hungry
- Phone and phone charger
- Deodorant
What I won’t be bringing with me
- A book – This is a surprisingly common addition to normal “hospital bag” lists, and I assume it must be if you go in super early and are waiting around, but having gone in at 8cm, there was no chance I was going to be reading a book. This time I’ll skip bringing!
- A dressing gown – Way too big and bulky, I brought a thick toweling dressing gown which I thought would add some luxury to my postpartum experience. However, it was soo hot on the ward, it just remained in my bag.
- A whole pack of breast pads – my milk didn’t come in until 4 days after my firstborn was born, so I didn’t need the massive pack of breast pads, as my colostrum wasn’t dripping out in the same way milk can do.
- Travel straighteners and a hairdryer – a really lovely thought, and I packed to have some little luxuries, but I didn’t ultimately end up using them so was just a waste of space!
- Spritz for bitz – Lots of people I know have used this, but despite having every intention to use, I ended up being quite content with using just water down below.
- Fluffy socks – again, the whole luxury thing, and I didn’t end up wearing.
- Slippers – perhaps a good idea for wandering the wards, but I just went without shoes to the loo or wore the trainers I came in if I got out of bed.
- Silver nipple shields – I’ve said before in my mastitis post, but nipple shields are a great idea in theory for easing nipple discomfort, but as a new mum with no real time to constantly clean them, they harbour too much bacteria to be worth it, so I’m ditching these altogether.
- Lansinoh cold relief pad – there was no where to keep this refrigerated or frozen so was left unused! Probably best keep at home ready for your arrival.
- A suitcase – First time around I nearly brought a suitcase, definitely a wise choice was listening to my other pregnant friends who gave birth before me who said the bays certainly didn’t have room to unpack a suitcase, so I switched to a duffel bag which was much more practical.
- Rebozo scarf – a nice idea and great if it helps with distraction during labour, but I just never ended up using it last time so will go without this time around too!
Hopefully this comprehensive list will be helpful for you! Of course you know you best so pack what you feel like you need and will keep you feeling confident in labour and those first few days postpartum.
Best of luck with your birth if you’re pregnant, stay positive, trust your instincts and know you’ll have the most incredible little baby with you soon.
